Lafayette to Tell City is 214.3 miles and takes about 4h 28m via SR 37, I 65, and I 69, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, moving from the Midwest region of Lafayette to the southern part of the state near Tell City. Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive that is manageable for a single day. This route is a practical option if you're looking for a straightforward journey through Indiana's varied landscapes without needing an overnight stay. Consider this if you prioritize directness and efficient travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.2 miles from Lafayette, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 37
70.9 mi
1h 33m
I 65
48.3 mi
52m
I 69
47.5 mi
53m
SR 145
16.2 mi
23m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
US 150
10.6 mi
14m
South Street
2.8 mi
5m
SR 64
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
SR 37
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, IN and Tell City, IN.
1
Start on this road
184 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Douglas Street
165 ft·8 sec·Douglas Street
3
Turn left onto Grant Street
34 ft·3 sec·Grant Street
4
Turn right onto South Street
2.8 mi·5 min·South Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·24 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
6
Merge onto I 65
42 mi·45 min·I 65
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
9
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
10
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
42 mi·52 min·SR 37
Exit 114Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
14
Enter roundabout onto US 150; SR 37; SR 56
156 ft·2 sec·West Main Street
15
Continue on US 150; SR 37; SR 56
260 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 150; SR 56
11 mi·14 min·US 150; SR 56
17
Turn left onto SR 145
16 mi·23 min·SR 145
18
Continue on SR 64
1.1 mi·1 min·SR 64
19
Continue on SR 37
29 mi·41 min·SR 37
20
Turn left onto SR 66
0.8 mi·1 min·12th Street
21
Turn right onto Mozart Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Mozart Street
22
Turn right
242 ft·17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 28m estimated drive time, leaving Lafayette in the morning will comfortably get you to Tell City within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a substantial longest stretch of 70.9 miles on SR 37, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the midpoint of your journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $29, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be mindful of potential traffic, especially when transitioning between interstates.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.2 miles from Lafayette, IN, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.2 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tell City, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lafayette, IN
This is one driving day of about 214.3 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Lafayette, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on SR 37 for about 70.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Douglas Street
Turn right onto Douglas Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Street
Turn right onto South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
45.6 mi into trip|~52m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|SR 37
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.50 one way
$67.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.79
$73.57
premium
$4.89
$41.24
$82.48
diesel
$5.61
$47.31
$94.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.29
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
EV Truck/SUV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.72
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lafayette, IN
Morning
in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tell City, IN
Late night
in Tell City on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Bloomington, IN
107 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 214.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 97% of the journey taking place on interstates and major state roads. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 70.9-mile segment on SR 37. The character of the drive is primarily that of efficient travel, transitioning between the familiar feel of I 65 and I 69 before eventually moving onto SR 37. While the highway share is high, the latter portion on SR 37 might offer a slightly different pace as you approach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.9 mi on SR 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 37 and I 65. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Douglas Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 214.3 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Douglas Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 214.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.9 miles on SR 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tell City, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Douglas Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Tell City, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
